Malaysia's former Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim has won an apology and damages from a police chief who beat him while he was in custody in 1998.

Mr Anwar had demanded the compensation in a civil case against the government, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the then police chief Rahim Noor.

Mr Anwar was freed from jail last year after a sentence he said was politically motivated.

He then had surgery for a back injury he said he sustained in the beating.

Rahim Noor's apology was read out in court.

"I Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor accept responsibility for the... assault. The pain and hurt caused to you and to your family is deeply regretted. I sincerely apologise to you Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim and your family for the same," it said.

Mr Anwar said he was happy with the statement.

"I, my family, accept the apology," he said.

Moving on

"There is no point in going on with this episode. The pain, anguish and humiliation were huge but I agree that we have to move on," he added, indicating he may also drop his demand for a public apology from Dr Mahathir.

The amount of damages he received has not been disclosed. His lawyer, Gobind Singh, suggested this was irrelevant.

"My client has maintained from the very beginning that this action is not about money but it was more about showing the police force that they cannot do as they please, abuse their position and get away with it," he said.

Mr Anwar was the rising star in the Malaysian government until he was sacked by Dr Mahathir in 1998 following a rift with the prime minister over how to run the country's economy.

Mr Anwar responded by leading a massive anti-government protest. That evening police broke down his door and arrested him.

In 1999 he was jailed for six years for corruption, and in 2000 he received a further nine years for sodomy, although that conviction was later quashed.